Chess Puzzle #GHJZC — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1592 · Intermediate · advantage, kingside attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rooks f1/f3; pawns a4/b2/c2/g2/g5/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/e8; bishop c8; pawns a6/c4/c6/e5/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf8 — rook e8→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: g6 — pawn g5→g6. Opponent replies fxg6 (pawn f7→g6, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f3→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf8 (queen e7→f8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b1r1k1/4qpp1/p1p5/4p1PQ/P1p5/5R2/1PP3PP/5R1K b - - 1 19

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.